5 African Diet foods to supercharge your gut health

Heralded as the new Mediterranean diet... plus a kefir grains "seeking new home" notice board for paid subscribers

The African baobab tree produces a fruit which is prebiotic and good for gut health. Photo by deshawn wilson on Unsplash

Less inflammation, and better metabolism in just 2 weeks.

These were the findings of a recent study in prestigious Nature Medicine journal when researchers switched people from a Western diet, to a traditional African diet full of fibre and fermented foods.

Inflammation is linked to a wide range of chronic diseases from Alzheimer’s to arthritis so eating foods to help reduce this is a good move. Heart and type 2 diabetes markers also improved on the African food diet.

So what is in this dietary pattern found in traditional meals by the Chagga tribe in Tanzania around the Kilimanjaro area, and being touted as a rival to the Med Diet for good health?

The study includes pictures of finger millet porridge and taro, ugali and mchicha, kiburu, or mbege. Do you know how to make any of those?

If not, how do you get some of the benefits of the ingredients used in east African dishes if you’re living in the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Australian, New Zealand where this newsletter is read?

I’m going to suggest ways you could weave African ingredients into your life wherever you are.

You may find many are already in health food stores, and supermarkets if you look for them.

Worth adding to your arsenal of gut-health foods.

The researchers noted: “This diet promotes a favourable gut microbiome composition and production of metabolites.”

Btw metabolites are molecules produced by gut bacteria that go on to help reduce inflammation and improve metabolism.

Conclusion, this is definitely a food trend worth getting on if you want better gut-health which can deliver wider-reaching health benefits from brain to immune system, heart health, and better blood sugar balance.